Donkeys Help
Dearest Readers,
I hope you are finding ways to take care of yourselves, tend to your needs and have fun in these fraught and uncertain times. When life is so precarious it feels more important than ever to do these simple things.
As an example, I recently paid a visit with some friends to the Primrose Donkey Sanctuary. I have always loved donkeys. When I was a child, I had a picture book called “Donkey, Donkey” about a donkey who doesn’t like his ears. I didn’t like mine either so I understood him.
In 2013, when I was on a month-long retreat in Ireland, I made friends with a donkey who lived in a field along my walking route. Once we established a connection, he would come to the fence to say hello and get a rub whenever I passed by.
During our visit at the Primrose Donkey Sanctuary, a donkey named Zak walked all the way around the other donkeys to come and stand by me. I reached my hand over the fence to give him a good rub but he was too far away and would not come any closer. He seemed very sad!
A Primrose volunteer wandered over and said Zak had been pretty depressed lately because his partner had just died. I learned donkeys tend to pair bond and can show obvious signs of mourning. Zak evidently wanted our company, because he stayed with us even while maintaining his distance.
I’ve been thinking about Zak all week. Some farms acquire donkeys because they calm the other animals. Despite his grief, he gave me that sense of calm. The way he stood by us, stock still, quietly breathing in the cold winter air, seemingly listening to our conversation, giving us his full presence.
While the circus of global politics screams on, climate catastrophes rage, and staggering injustices occur around our planet, it has brought me strange comfort to think of Zak, a very present donkey living on a farm, missing his partner.
From his world to my world to yours, and all the worlds in-between …
Celia
PS ~ My mother wrote a book called “Dandelions Help” so thanks, Mum, for inspiring this month’s title.
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Upcoming and Ongoing
Save the Date: I’ll be facilitating an online retreat for Spiritual Directors International on Thursday, February 19th at 1 pm ET. More info soon …
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The Coldest Night of the Year is an annual fundraiser for the Green Wood Coalition, an organization that builds community through inclusivity. If you have a few bucks to spare, please sponsor our team, The Chilly Chompers. We will be walking on February 28th for the marginalized folks in our community who need a little hope.
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Just beautiful, Celia.
I'm so touched by this story.
And donkeys have been in my life as well - we had a little donkey family for a while, along with our goats and chickens. The donkey foal that was born, we named Sylvester, as in 'the Magic Pebble.'
Bless the animals.
And I loved reading about your mother - sounds like a true continuity running from her work to yours . . .